By HOWIE STALWICK, SPECIAL TO THE P-I

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, September 4, 2008

PULLMAN -- The Washington State Cougars, desperately short on experience, will play without one of their most experienced players for one half Saturday after teammates voted to suspend starting defensive tackle A'i Ahmu for the first half of the Pac-10 opener with California.

The Unity Council, a player group formed by coach Paul Wulff to deal with team discipline issues, made the decision at the end of Thursday's practice.

Ahmu turned himself in to police Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear for a court date in connection with his offseason arrest for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Wulff said Ahmu told him he missed a Whitman County court date in Colfax, about 15 miles from Pullman, because he couldn't get a ride. Wulff said Ahmu does not own a car or cell phone. After Ahmu was driven to Colfax to appear in court Wednesday, Wulff said the 6-foot, 280-pound Ahmu began walking back to Pullman before a WSU instructor saw him and gave him a ride.

"They caught him as he was getting out of town, about where the deer cross all the time," Wulff said.

Wulff, who gave the Unity Council the option of suspending Ahmu for a half or game, said fifth-year senior Adam Hineline will make his first career start in Ahmu's place. Hineline and two other walk-ons are among 12 WSU starters who have made two or fewer career starts at the four-year college level.

Wulff said he will "probably" watch WSU's three kickers in pregame warm-ups before determining who will kick field goals and extra points Saturday. Sophomore Wade Penner missed one of two extra points in last week's season-opening loss to Oklahoma State (he attempted no field goals). Penner and JC transfers Nico Grasu and Patrick Rooney have been inconsistent all fall.

Guard Brian Danaher returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a minor injury, and Wulff said he expects Danaher to start. Offensive tackle Vaughn Lesuma and punter Reid Forrest are rebounding from injuries and should make their season debuts Saturday.